These operations include workplace raids, spot checks, and joint investigations focusing on undocumented individuals, human smuggling, and employer violations.

Below is a highlighted summary of key reports, the current situation, and the latest reported incidents of CBSA raids/action.

New Efforts By Canadian government in 2025

With housing shortages, strained public services, and over 2 million temporary residents, Border Services Agency raids signal a bold shift to restore order.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s $617.7 million investment to hire 1,000 new officers underscores this pivot, targeting illegal employment, human smuggling, and visa overstays.

Yet, a critical challenge persists: CBSA has lost track of over 29,000 individuals facing deportation orders, their whereabouts unknown, amplifying the urgency of this crackdown.

From Alberta’s oilfields to Montreal’s urban enclaves, these operations are reshaping Canada’s immigration landscape, igniting debates over security, compassion, and systemic reform.

With 2025’s enforcement surge redefining Canada’s borders, we uncover the stakes, successes, and paths forward in a nation balancing sovereignty and sanctuary.

CBSA’s Enforcement Surge: A Response to Systemic Strain

CBSA’s mandate under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) is clear: enforce admissibility, facilitate legal entry, and remove those who violate terms.

In 2024, the agency executed 16,470 removals, a 25% increase, yet grapples with a 457,646-case deportation pipeline.

Over the five years, the aim is to scale removals to 20,000 annually by 2027, prioritizing inland operations in sectors like construction, hospitality, and agriculture.

The lost-track crisis—29,731 individuals, including 21,325 in Ontario and 6,109 in Quebec—exposes systemic gaps.

Mexicans (7,622 cases) lead, followed by Indian, Nigerian, and Haitian nationals, many evading hearings or blending into underground economies.

Among them, over 600 convicted criminals heighten enforcement’s urgency.

New tools—AI document verification, $12,800 removal fees, and electronic monitoring for 13,818 low-risk cases—aim to close these loopholes.

CBSA Raids: Major Reported Incidents in 2025

CBSA’s 2025 operations have sparked widespread attention, with reports of raids targeting hotspots of unauthorized work and smuggling.

Below are key incidents, drawn from credible reports, showcasing the agency’s nationwide reach:

October 2025: GTA Mailbox Fraud Sting

This incident aligns with Project Undeliverable, a Peel-Halton-Canada Post investigation recovering over $400,000 in stolen mail (cheques, IDs, credit cards), leading to 8 arrests with 344 charges.

These eight suspects have been identified as Sumanpreet Singh, Gurdeep Chattha, Jashandeep Jattana, Harman Singh, Jasanpreet Singh, Manroop Singh, Rajbir Singh and Upinderjit Singh.

It ties to CBSA’s efforts to deport foreign nationals involved in fraud networks.

October 2025: Calgary Construction Sweeps

This describes dawn raids on construction sites and event centres, detaining 40+ undocumented workers based on local tips about cash jobs, with $100,000 fines and plans for 200+ checks by year-end.

A tip-led raid was conducted at the Calgary event centre construction site, resulting in the identification of 4 undocumented workers, which could potentially increase to 40+ in the future.

The CBSA and Calgary Police collaborated on this operation, and the workers were required to report for removal, as reported by Global News.

Mid-2025: BC Agricultural Raids (Fraser Valley)

This covers operations in berry farms and seafood plants uncovering debt-bonded workers, with 12 detentions in Vancouver restaurants and social media amplifying unverified clips of CBSA vans.

No direct raid reports surfaced; results focused on unrelated agricultural programs. This incident appears generalized from Pacific Region enforcement trends (e.g., 200+ planned checks).

Note: Limited direct reporting suggests this may stem from broader 2025 enforcement trends or unverified social media reports.

March 2025: Quebec Smuggling Bust (Montreal)

This aligns with a CBSA indictment for human smuggling involving Congolese nationals, including raids in Côte-des-Neiges detaining ~25 hospitality workers.

Charges against Hugues Mbala Diata for 22 counts under IRPA for smuggling Congolese nationals; raids in Montreal’s Côte-des-Neiges seized counterfeit passports; 25 detentions in the hospitality sector; linked to a 15% YTD deportation rise in Quebec.

Early 2025: Ontario Business Crackdown (Oshawa)

This incident involves a joint CBSA-OPP investigation culminating in sentencing for illegal hiring by three businesses (CDA Landscape Services, TDA Landscape Services, and SDA Services), uncovering over 700 unauthorized workers.

Details of guilty pleas on February 28, 2025, in Oshawa court; fines for 20+ counts of unauthorized employment; a network spanning GTA and Ontario; ties to 16,470 removals in 2024 and a 25% increase target for 2025–2027 as reported by CBSA.

These incidents reflect CBSA’s shift to intelligence-driven enforcement, leveraging tips and inter-agency collaboration to target high-risk sectors and regions.

Advice for Out-of-Status Immigrants and Temporary Residents in Cash Jobs

For out-of-status immigrants or temporary residents working cash jobs, CBSA’s intensified raids pose significant risks, including detention, fines, and deportation.

However, pathways exist to navigate this precarious landscape. Here’s practical advice to mitigate risks and seek legal status:

1. Understand Your Status and Risks
   • Out-of-status individuals—those whose visas have expired or who work without authorization—face immediate removal if detained.
   • Cash jobs, common in construction, hospitality, or agriculture, often lack paper trails, making workers vulnerable to employer exploitation and CBSA raids.
   • Consult an immigration lawyer to assess your case and legal options to avoid further violations.
2. Explore Regularization Options
   • Implied Status: If you’ve applied for a visa extension before your current permit expires, you may remain legally in Canada while awaiting a decision.
   • Ensure applications are filed promptly with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
   • Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) Applications: Those with strong ties to Canada—e.g., Canadian-born children or community involvement—may apply for permanent residency on H&C grounds.
   • Success rates are low (around 20%), so legal counsel is critical.
   • Temporary Resident Permits (TRPs): For compelling reasons, such as family unity or economic contributions, TRPs may allow temporary stays despite inadmissibility.
3. Avoid Underground Economies
   • Cash jobs may seem appealing but increase exposure to raids and exploitation. Employers face fines up to $100,000 for hiring undocumented workers, and employees risk detention.
   • Seek legitimate employment through programs like the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) or consult job boards compliant with IRCC regulations.
4. Engage Legal Support Immediately
   • If detained or facing a removal order, contact a lawyer or legal aid clinic (e.g., Legal Aid Ontario or BC’s Immigrant Services Society).
   • They can file stay motions or explore Pre-Removal Risk Assessments (PRRAs), though only 3-5% succeed.
   • Free resources are available through community organizations like FCJ Refugee Centre in Toronto.
5. Report Exploitation Anonymously
   • If trapped in exploitative work conditions, use CBSA’s Border Watch Line (1-888-502-9060) to report smuggling or fraud anonymously.
   • This may protect you from retaliation while aiding investigations.
6. Prepare for Worst-Case Scenarios
   • Keep critical documents (passports, birth certificates) accessible and inform trusted contacts of your plans.
   • If detained, you’re entitled to a hearing within 48 hours; prepare to articulate ties to Canada.
   • Avoid absconding, as it adds to the 29,731 untracked cases, complicating your future options.

Acting swiftly and legally is your best defence. As commonly advised by genuine legal counsels, “Compliance today prevents heartbreak tomorrow.”

Carney’s $1.3 billion border plan, slashing permanent resident targets to 365,000 by 2027, counters U.S. deportation threats.

Social media users praise new officers as a sign of strength, while others question spending priorities: “$345M for borders, $442M for Ukraine’s programs?”

A July 2025 leak exposed screening failures, admitting unchecked “terrorist” entries, amplifying raid urgency.

Social media debates rage, with some pushing for stricter enforcement and others demanding compassion.

The Road Ahead: Tech, Appeals, and Reform

Regularization offers hope, but it is not expected in the near term—implied status and humanitarian appeals may help genuine applicants.

CBSA’s Border Watch Line (1-888-502-9060) fuels tips, while AI and blockchain promise tracking fixes for the 30,000 lost.

CBSA’s raids are a reckoning for Canada’s borders and now maintaining inside-country balance with new officers and technology.

By blending enforcement with empathy, Canada can uphold its immigrant legacy while securing its future.

Stay tuned to CBSA’s site for updates, and share your thoughts—Canada’s border story is ours to shape.

  Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC